There needs to be something done so that theres no more smoke & fire coming fro,m the Third Rail or trains since one person died. and Im glad I wasn't on that train or the affected area when this happened and next time I railfan Metro, Ill have to being a large bottle of water just in case.
Railroad Forums
Smoke incident near L'Enfant Plaza 1/12/201
- Discussion related to DC area passenger rail services from Northern Virginia to Baltimore, MD. Includes Light Rail and Baltimore Subway.
Moderators: mtuandrew, therock, Robert Paniagua
I think the 45mph limit is in effect now, noticing that trains run noticeably slower between Court House/Pentagon -> Foggy Bottom-GWU
Everyone:
The title of this topic needs to be changed to -
"Smoke incident near L'Enfant Plaza 1/12/2015"
This would better describe what this problem was instead of the current vague title...
From these investigations this looks to have been electrical in origin involving feeder cables for third rail power ...
There has been good information posted on this subject here and gives a general idea what went wrong and how it can be corrected...
MACTRAXX
The title of this topic needs to be changed to -
"Smoke incident near L'Enfant Plaza 1/12/2015"
This would better describe what this problem was instead of the current vague title...
From these investigations this looks to have been electrical in origin involving feeder cables for third rail power ...
There has been good information posted on this subject here and gives a general idea what went wrong and how it can be corrected...
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS
MACTRAXX wrote:Everyone:I agree. When I created this thread I had no idea of the magnitude of the issue, or that it would grow into a long-term thread.
The title of this topic needs to be changed to -
"Smoke incident near L'Enfant Plaza 1/12/2015"
This would better describe what this problem was instead of the current vague title...
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
Over the weekend as part of regular reviews, MoCo fire dept discovered lack of radio signal in Red Line tunnels/stations similar to those that plagued the L'Enfant rescue efforts. http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/tr ... 68031.html. As of today, the issue reportedly has been resolved.
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
JDC wrote:Over the weekend as part of regular reviews, MoCo fire dept discovered lack of radio signal in Red Line tunnels/stations similar to those that plagued the L'Enfant rescue efforts. http://www.nbcwashington.com/traffic/tr ... 68031.html. As of today, the issue reportedly has been resolved.Similar radio problems were found at 10 spots in DC, though only one remains unresolved. Mayor Bowser has ordered weekly checks at each station in DC, versus the previous monthly schedule. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc- ... story.html
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
Two updates, one very big.
First, the NTSB is having a photo opportunity at its HQ for the press to see the section of the third rail that caused the smoke/fire at L'Enfant. http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases ... 50211.aspx.
Second, and more importantly, the NTSB has issued three urgent recommendations to Metro in the wake of the incident. The NTSB's press release is online http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases ... 0211b.aspx and has links to the three safety recommendation letters. The letters can also be found here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 15-007.pdf), here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 08-010.pdf) and here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 11-012.pdf).
In sum:
As part of the ongoing investigation, the NTSB found that the WMATA subway system has ventilation fans at strategic locations to remove smoke and heat from the tunnels. These fans can be operated in either a supply mode that pulls fresh air into the tunnels or stations or an exhaust mode that pulls air from the tunnels or stations to the outside. The fans can be operated either remotely from the WMATA Operation Control Center or locally from control panels located at the fans.
The investigation to date has revealed that WMATA does not currently have the means to determine the exact location of a source of smoke in its tunnel network. WMATA maintains no written ventilation procedures for smoke and fire events in the tunnel, and the ventilation strategy that WMATA implemented during the accident was not consistent with best practices.
First, the NTSB is having a photo opportunity at its HQ for the press to see the section of the third rail that caused the smoke/fire at L'Enfant. http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases ... 50211.aspx.
Second, and more importantly, the NTSB has issued three urgent recommendations to Metro in the wake of the incident. The NTSB's press release is online http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases ... 0211b.aspx and has links to the three safety recommendation letters. The letters can also be found here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 15-007.pdf), here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 08-010.pdf) and here (http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/ ... 11-012.pdf).
In sum:
As part of the ongoing investigation, the NTSB found that the WMATA subway system has ventilation fans at strategic locations to remove smoke and heat from the tunnels. These fans can be operated in either a supply mode that pulls fresh air into the tunnels or stations or an exhaust mode that pulls air from the tunnels or stations to the outside. The fans can be operated either remotely from the WMATA Operation Control Center or locally from control panels located at the fans.
The investigation to date has revealed that WMATA does not currently have the means to determine the exact location of a source of smoke in its tunnel network. WMATA maintains no written ventilation procedures for smoke and fire events in the tunnel, and the ventilation strategy that WMATA implemented during the accident was not consistent with best practices.
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
A House Oversight subcommittee is currently holding a hearing on this incident. Live video and documents can be found here: http://oversight.house.gov/hearing/d-c- ... afety-gap/
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
JDC wrote:A House Oversight subcommittee is currently holding a hearing on this incident. Live video and documents can be found here: http://oversight.house.gov/hearing/d-c- ... afety-gap/
Today's WP story summarizing the hearing, though it does not capture the 'flavor' of the grilling. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tra ... story.html
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
Something is really screwy.
Controller turn on fans in the station to draw the smoke out of the tunnel and into the station and then to the surface. (It should noted that said fans are part of the station air condition system). Controller turn on fans in the Maine Avenue fan shaft to draw smoke out of the tunnel in front of the train.
What's missing in the description of events is what was done to the dampers in the blow out vent shafts at the south end of the station. Were they open or closed at beginning of the incident? Based on the amount smoke in the L'Enfant station, my guess is they were closed. Were they opened as part of the turning on the fans procedure or were they closed?
Opening those dampers would have opened a path of least resistances for fresh air to enter both the station and the tunnel from the surface.
The 2 functioning fans in the fan shaft combined have a greater CFM then the fans in the station.
Controller turn on fans in the station to draw the smoke out of the tunnel and into the station and then to the surface. (It should noted that said fans are part of the station air condition system). Controller turn on fans in the Maine Avenue fan shaft to draw smoke out of the tunnel in front of the train.
What's missing in the description of events is what was done to the dampers in the blow out vent shafts at the south end of the station. Were they open or closed at beginning of the incident? Based on the amount smoke in the L'Enfant station, my guess is they were closed. Were they opened as part of the turning on the fans procedure or were they closed?
Opening those dampers would have opened a path of least resistances for fresh air to enter both the station and the tunnel from the surface.
The 2 functioning fans in the fan shaft combined have a greater CFM then the fans in the station.
John in the sand box of Maryland's eastern shore.
Story in WP on how Metro is planning on upgrading its control systems to better locate tunnel fires and to ventilate them better. Includes a nice video of a tunnel fan. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tra ... story.html
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
Oh good, I hope they finally have a plan in case there's another smoke and fire incident because we would like to have the Metro in a safe environment
Metro is releasing new commercials in the DMV that will focus on how to handle emergencies in the system. They also have a longer 3 minute video online: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local ... 45821.html
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
At the Board's March 26 hearing there was a presentation by Troup on the status of post-incident changes to Metrorail operations. The pdf is here: http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/board_ ... Update.pdf
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.
Metro today promised 4 safety improvements as a result of the L'Enfant Plaza incident http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr- ... -incident/.
They include:
a dedicated team that will clear Metro's tunnels of debris and obstructions;
a multi-year program to replace all "88,044 lights" in its tunnels;
a comprehensive effort to properly audit its funnels fans to ensure they work and to ensure they are activated properly in an emergency;
review how alarms are handled in operations to separate critical from non-critical alarms.
They include:
a dedicated team that will clear Metro's tunnels of debris and obstructions;
a multi-year program to replace all "88,044 lights" in its tunnels;
a comprehensive effort to properly audit its funnels fans to ensure they work and to ensure they are activated properly in an emergency;
review how alarms are handled in operations to separate critical from non-critical alarms.
Living in Broadlands, VA; Working at Half & L SE, DC.